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02/28/2012

Interview: Lisa Hunt and the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot

Lisa Hunt, artist and author of the soon-to-be-released Ghosts and Spirits Tarot, took some time out of her busy schedule to indulge us in an interview. Lisa is an internationally known tarot artist whose work includes many bestselling decks including Fantastical Creatures Tarot (US Games 2007) She was nominated for a 2008 Chesley Award and voted a top-10 tarot deck for 2007 by Aeclectic Tarot as well as a 2006 COVR Visionary Award. You can follow her blog here.

USGAMES: Who or what first interested you in the Tarot or in Oracle cards?

Lisa: I feel as though I've always known about

Rider-Waite and the iconic cards that have defined tarot for generations. But it wasn't until I dove deep into mythological studies and Jungian psychology that I began to identify the relevance of symbolism, archetypes, and universal themes as it pertained to tarot. When I was given the opportunity to create art for my first deck, Shapeshifter Tarot, I was naive to say the least and saw it as an organic extension for my burgeoning exploratory art. Little did I know that it was the beginning of a long journey through mysterious terrain that became deeper and more profound with each subsequent tarot deck creation. You can track the stylistic changes that reflect personal growth by looking at my tarot decks in the order of publication. Not only has it served as a personal apparatus for trying to understand the psyche and the depth of core meanings, but it has provided a tremendous multidisciplined education that keeps on giving.

USGAMES: What is your favorite card in the deck?

Lisa: (This is the most difficult question of the interview as every single piece holds a special place in the Ghost and Spirits tarot gallery, so to speak)

I tend to gravitate to those images that are not obvious, but are suggestive and provocative. I love Ekimmu as Knight of Swords with its sweeping, subtle, lugubrious presence. It almost seems as though Ekimmu itself is tearing through the veils separating the worlds of the living and the dead; opening up passageways between the different layers of the psyche and begging us to question what is real and what is an illusion. In some ways, this card encapsulates the creative process of the deck.

I also love the Psychopompos Ankou as King of Pentacles, the tortured countenance of La Lorona as Nine of Swords (Nine of Swords has always been a compelling card for me), the entangled labyrinthine trail of Rübezahl as Ace of Pentacles, the golden hues of Cailleach Bheur (Brrrr!) as Queen of Pentacles and the penetrable Snow Ghost as Justice. The "extra" card that USG will be including in Ghosts & Spirits Tarot is another favorite due to its experimental nature. Okay, check the corny-o-meter, but I cried while painting it as if paranormal entities were in possession of my emotions!

I asked my husband this question and his favorites were different from my own, with a few overlapping exceptions. So I'm hoping there is something for everyone in this deck.

USGAMES: What was the first deck that truly inspired you?

Lisa: About fifteen years ago I acquired a copy of Legend: Arthurian Tarot by Anna-Marie Ferguson. Ms. Ferguson's stories, applications and sumptuous watercolor paintings gave me mental permission to take my own work on a narrative and graphic journey replete with folklore and legend. While studying this deck, I realized that there was no precept that I needed to subscribe to. Instead, I took a basic template and made tarot my own---where I could nurture my passion for mythos and story while staying true to the fundamental meanings and informative delivery. Tune in on Thursday to learn Lisa's answer to this question. What card was the most challenging to paint?

﻿What card do you think was the most challenging? Leave your comment to be entered in the drawing. All commenters on Lisa's interview posts will be entered in the contest.

Apparently there is an problem with viewing the card images above when using Safari. The paintings become inverted, looking like film negatives. As far as I know, it isn't an issue with other browsers like Firefox, but if the cards appear like this on your screen, try viewing the blog using another browser. Thank you.

WOW. I thought the problem was with viewing on a Mac. But now I am using Firefox instead of Safari (thanks Kort!) and the Justice Card is brilliant!! Lisa has such a talent for using color to evoke moods and nuanced meanings.

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, everybody! I appreciate all the support and enthusiasm for my upcoming Ghosts and Spirits Tarot deck. USG did a fabulous job with the production/packaging. It has been a wonderful ride through ghostly terrain. USG also conducted a thought-provoking interview that I hope you enjoy reading!